Burning Rubber Smell??? :S

[djct_watt]

Releasing the clutch too late and slamming the gas too early is usually the culprit for burning the clutch in higher gears than first.

I suggest you slow down your shifts before you start trying to shift fast and furious style (if that is indeed what you are doing).

[sherlock]

Originally Posted by djct_watt

Releasing the clutch too late and slamming the gas too early is usually the culprit for burning the clutch in higher gears than first.

I suggest you slow down your shifts before you start trying to shift fast and furious style (if that is indeed what you are doing).

I've been feeling the same smell when pushing hard, and it's been over two years now. It's usually in higher gears and it doesn't have anything to do with wheel spinning. I used to think it has to do with RPMs, and general engine heat, as I was in those cases pushing above 6k, but it could actually be clutch related as you say, as I would often feel the smell when trying to accelerate fast through several gears, i.e. when entering highway.

My question is, how does burned out clutch manifest itself, and is there anything I should check in the near future? I'm only asking that because I've been noticing that smell from time to time for over two years now, and maybe I've pushed it too hard.

Also to double check that recomendation about not holding the clutch for too long, I'm guessing that's related to the half way released clutch, not fully pressed clutch, as I don't think there's a problem with holding a fully pressed clutch. When driving around town I actually hold the clutch half way through for much longer when starting, to avoid wheel spin when accelerating fast, and I don't remember feeling that small at all, I think it's only from 2/3 gear up, and maybe the smell is actually more related to slamming the gas too early as you say? Maybe in that case I need to be more careful with the gas *until* the clutch is fully released, and then it should be ok to press it hard?

Thanks.